QuestionQUESTION: Hi: sears chain saw. After 8 months of no gas in tank, filled, started hard, then ran. Restarted twice, then would not restart. Prime bulb not filling with gas. Opened case, both lines still connected to bulb, no obvious leak. ???
tom kline
tom kline
ANSWER: You probably have a stopped up carburetor that needs to be taken apart, soaked in cleaner for an hour or so and rebuilt with a new carb kit. We replace the fuel lines, primer and fuel filter when we do this.
You could have a stopped up fuel filter, a primer bulb with a leak, a fuel line with a leak, a stopped up screen inside the carb, it's difficult to tell. Often when there's a leak in the primer, (syringe), or fuel line, the vacuum won't be created and fuel won't draw, so it might not show a fuel leak.
We recommend rebuilding all two-stroke carburetors annually. Leaning out a two-stroke will drastically shorten the life of a two-stroke engine. Doing the rebuild and changing the fuel lines and filter annually should not only fix this problem, but add many years to the life of the saw. Our commercial operators are reporting near-zero problems with their two-stroke equipment since we started doing this.
Your saw was probably made by Poulan. This is useful when buying parts. Generally Sears is a bit higher than other sources. Let me know if you need any help with part numbers or diagrams of the saw. Thanks, PK.
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QUESTION: PK:
thanks for the quick response! perhaps emptying out the
gas is worse for gunk and goo in the carb?
Yes it would be great to have part numbers and diagram.
I would like to learn to do this myself.
Sear saw 16" 36cc serial: 42cc-TWC (i suspect reversed
with 04293D 300164 (05:41) listed as model number
this is really a nice service
tom kline
ANSWER: There should be a number that begins with a 358. If you can get me that I can cross reference with the Poulan number.
The best way to store a 2 stroke, or any small gas equipment nowadays, is to use something like Techron or SeaFoam in the gas and then run the engine dry. The ethanol in our gas nowadays causes all sorts of problems. It only has a life of about 90 days, it's hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water, (and quite quickly at that, and just overall isn't what we used to get only a few years ago.
Only two or three years ago I would tell you to fill the tank to full and you could store it for several months. But nowadays you just shouldn't do that, although it is good for my business....
Thanks, PK.
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QUESTION: PK: 358.360260
Is the carb the problem when pressing the trigger it
cuts out?
Is the regular stabilizer stuff ok, enough with the oil
I buy in the packets?
I really appreciate this
tom kline
Raleigh
AnswerIf you have a compression gauge, it's a good idea to check the compression.
Starting with the carb and fuel line is the way to go. Be sure to replace the fuel filter too.
Any of the name brand fuel treatment is probably okay. We use SeaFoam and Techron in the shop so I'm most familiar with them.
Something that's very important to the life of your 2-stroke equipment is using a good quality oil and the right mixture. If the saw is under warranty, use the manufacturer's oil. Oftentimes it's dyed and will be evident on the engine parts.
We use and sell a product called No Smoke-Two Stroke. It's excellent oil for mixing and with only one mix ratio you can use it in any 2-stroke equipment. There are a couple other oils that are similar and are reputed to be just as good.
For parts, the easiest thing to do is go to the Sears parts direct site and enter your model number. The parts number that will be on the Sears list is the same part number Poulan uses. You can use our parts look-up at Grandjunctionsmallengines.com or any other that sells Poulan parts.
Let me know if you have any questions, Thanks, PK.
